What can you do with a Accounting degree from James Madison University?

First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from James Madison University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 15 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 79%, Accounting graduates from James Madison University have a much higher likelihood (+12%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, 60% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Accounting graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree from James Madison University?
• What do Accounting graduates from James Madison University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Accounting degree from James Madison University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Accounting degree from James Madison University?
• What are the best colleges for Accounting?

View a random Accounting graduate from James Madison University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 90% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2012 from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION AmeriCorps Member City Year Jul 2013 - Jul 2014 The role of an AmeriCorps Member at City Year does not require accounting-specific skills or knowledge, making it unrelated to the Bachelors degree in Accounting. Risk Assurance Senior Associate PwC Jul 2014 - May 2018 As a Risk Assurance Senior Associate at PwC, the job directly employs accounting knowledge and skills essential for financial risk assessment and compliance, making it highly relevant. Technology Risk Consulting Supervisor RSM US LLP Jul 2018 - Apr 2020 The Technology Risk Consulting Supervisor at RSM US LLP requires extensive application of accounting principles and risk management techniques, which are core to the Bachelors degree in Accounting. AWS Security Assurance, US Government Security and Compliance Manager Amazon Jun 2020 - Mar 2022 The position of AWS Security Assurance, US Government Security and Compliance Manager at Amazon relies on compliance and auditing skills that are grounded in the principles learned through an accounting education, making it pertinent. AWS Security Assurance, Sr. Security and Compliance Manager Amazon Apr 2022 - Present As an AWS Security Assurance, Sr. Security and Compliance Manager at Amazon, this role employs advanced accounting and compliance knowledge, directly tying it back to the Bachelors degree in Accounting. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) James Madison University 2012 - 2013 ABOUT No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree from James Madison University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Staff Accountant
• Sales Representative
• Psychotherapist
• AVP Support Specialist
• Vendor Management Consultant
• Associate Director - Vendor Management
• Director - Strategic Sourcing
• Front Desk Clerk
• Cyber Analyst
• Assurance Intern

When analyzing the job choices of graduates from James Madison University with accounting degrees, it seems that a significant number of them gravitate towards positions that are closely related to their academic background. Many are employed as accountants, auditors, and in various roles at CPA firms, which directly tap into the knowledge and skills they've gained during their studies. For example, roles like Tax Seasonal Intern, Staff Accountant, and several positions at leading firms like KPMG and EY are prime examples of how these graduates are applying their expertise in the field of accounting. Overall, these roles reflect a strong connection to their academic training, focusing largely on financial analysis, compliance, and auditing.

However, it's interesting to note that not everyone sticks to the accounting path. Some graduates have ventured into fields that seem quite distant from their studies, like psychotherapy and vendor management. In these cases, the relevance to accounting is minimal, and they seem to rely more on different skill sets altogether. While many of their peers are navigating the accounting world successfully, a decent chunk is exploring various unrelated professions. This highlights a common scenario where a degree offers a foundation, but not every graduate chooses to tether their career to it. Ultimately, while there's a strong representation of accounting-related jobs among JMU graduates, there's also a variety of other paths that showcase the flexibility and breadth of skills these students acquire during their studies.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Accounting graduates (this is across all Accounting graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to James Madison University):

What kind of career trajectories do Accounting graduates from James Madison University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from James Madison University who studied Accounting, it's clear that many have started off well in their fields right after graduation. Most have kickstarted their careers with internship experiences at big firms like KPMG and EY, often snagging positions as staff accountants or assurance associates shortly after that. For instance, graduates from 2010 to 2015 typically began their careers in roles like tax seasonal intern, staff accountant, or even in auditing positions which are pretty standard starting points in the Accounting world. This trend shows that they are generally landing jobs that are relevant to their degrees and allowing them to build foundational skills in the profession.

As for what happens 5 or 10 years later, many graduates have climbed the ladder in their respective firms or related fields. A lot have moved from entry-level positions to mid-management roles, such as managers and directors in auditing, risk advisory, or consulting. However, there are also some graduates who have veered off the accounting path entirely, exploring careers in fields like counseling and sales, which isn't typically what you'd expect for Accounting majors. All in all, while a solid number are thriving in their accounting careers, there’s a noteworthy slice that have chosen to pursue diverse alternatives, reflecting a mix of successful accounting careers along with some unexpected career changes. Overall, it seems like the JMU Accounting graduates have a good grounding, even if not everyone stays strictly within the accounting lane as time goes on.

How hard is a Accounting degree from James Madison University?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting can be pretty challenging, but it’s not impossible! At James Madison University, you’ll encounter a good mix of theory and practical application, with courses in properties like financial accounting, managerial accounting, and taxation. The workload can get intense, especially during midterm and finals, and you’ll need to be comfortable with numbers and analytical thinking. That said, if you stay organized and manage your time well, it can be manageable. Compared to some other majors, it might feel a bit tougher due to the emphasis on math and detail-oriented tasks, but with dedication and a study plan, you’ll find your groove.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Accounting.

Do Accounting graduates from James Madison University tend to make good money?

Looking at these recent James Madison University graduates, it seems like a mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. The ones in accounting roles—especially those who've landed positions at big firms like KPMG and EY—are likely doing pretty well, with growth in their careers indicating they’re climbing the financial ladder. On the other hand, some graduates, particularly those in counseling or entry-level roles, may not hit those higher income brackets right away. However, it’s worth noting that careers can take time to build up, and many people in counseling say they find the work rewarding even if the pay isn’t as high as in corporate jobs. So overall, some grads are definitely making good money, while others might be focusing more on passion over paycheck for now.

What buzzwords do Accounting graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Accounting (this is across all Accounting graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to James Madison University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Accounting?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Accounting (ordered by the average relevance score of their Accounting graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
University of Kentucky	98	12
Portland State University	96	14
Bentley University	94	10
Troy University	93	10
University of Florida	90	15
Weber State University	90	16
Temple University	89	10
Kansas State University	89	19
Western Illinois University	89	10
Baruch College	89	36
Wichita State University	89	11
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	89	17
Clemson University	87	17
Old Dominion University	87	10
University of Nevada-Las Vegas	87	12
Gonzaga University	87	11
San Diego State University	86	18
The University of Texas at Dallas	86	19
University of Maryland College Park	86	10
Saint Leo University	86	11
Grand Canyon University	85	11
The University of Alabama	85	18
The University of Kansas	85	12
The University of Texas at El Paso	85	16
California State University-Los Angeles	85	12
University of Houston-Clear Lake	85	11
Arizona State University - W. P. Carey School of Business	85	11
San Francisco State University	84	11
George Mason University	84	14
Central Connecticut State University	84	20
Florida International University	83	16
University of South Florida	83	19
Brigham Young University	83	25
Oregon State University	83	12
Robert Morris University	83	12
Rasmussen College	83	10
Penn State University	82	39
Louisiana State University	82	25
Oklahoma State University	82	21
Liberty University	81	17
University of Houston	81	17
San Diego State University-California State University	81	11
Metropolitan State University of Denver	81	11
Indiana Wesleyan University	81	17
Bryant University	81	10
Rutgers Business School	81	11
Florida State University	80	18
Colorado State University	80	13
North Carolina State University	80	11
California State University, Fresno	80	14
James Madison University	79	15
Brigham Young University - Idaho	79	18
California State University, Fullerton	79	15
Florida Atlantic University	79	27
Kennesaw State University	79	16
Northern Illinois University	79	21
California State University, Long Beach	79	12
Western Kentucky University	79	11
University of Alabama at Birmingham	79	15
University of North Alabama	79	11
Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business	79	15
The University of Texas at Austin - Red McCombs School of Business	79	10
Michigan State University	78	11
San Jose State University	78	22
California State University, Northridge	78	16
Mississippi State University	78	14
University of Nebraska at Omaha	78	11
Franklin University	78	20
University of Utah	77	13
Eastern Michigan University	77	15
University of Louisiana at Lafayette	77	11
Central Washington University	77	12
University at Albany, SUNY	77	11
University of St. Thomas	77	11
California State University-Sacramento	76	15
University of Mississippi	76	28
University of Illinois at Chicago	76	13
Northwood University	76	18
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	76	11
Texas A&M University	75	37
Texas State University	75	10
University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business	75	17
State University of New York College at Old Westbury	75	14
University of North Texas	74	14
Towson University	74	18
DePaul University	74	14
Utah Valley University	74	16
Rowan University	74	17
Kean University	74	16
Rider University	74	13
The Ohio State University	73	12
Western Governors University	73	52
Western Michigan University	73	11
Boise State University	73	20
California State University-San Bernardino	73	16
The University of Memphis	73	15
Queens College	73	28
St. Cloud State University	73	10
Southern New Hampshire University	72	22
Iowa State University	72	12
The University of Texas at San Antonio	72	26
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	72	23
University of Central Florida	71	39
Youngstown State University	71	11
University of San Diego	71	12
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	70	25
Sam Houston State University	70	23
Missouri State University	70	23
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	69	15
Washington State University	69	12
University at Buffalo	69	10
University of Alabama	69	13
The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business	69	15
University of Nebraska-Lincoln	68	13
Siena College	68	13
University of Washington	67	12
DeVry University	67	30
Ashford University	65	21
University of Houston-Downtown	65	18
Upper Iowa University	64	14
Nicholls State University	64	12
California State University-Long Beach	63	13
Auburn University	62	15
Georgia State University	62	13
University of Phoenix	61	113
Virginia Commonwealth University	61	13
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga	61	12
East Carolina University	60	10
Wright State University	60	10
Colorado Technical University	59	19
Strayer University	59	32
Valdosta State University	56	10
Southern Connecticut State University	55	10
Kaplan University	52	20
Monroe College	40	11